Global Issues

Ireland

• Destination, source and transit country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking.

• Sex trafficking victims originate in Eastern Europe, Africa, including Nigeria, as well as South America and Asia.

• Children subjected to prostitution in various cities in Ireland, including Sligo, Kilkenny, Cork, and Dublin.

• 2010 report by NGO experts concluded that victims of sex trafficking in Ireland are subjected to multiple repressive methods, including debt bondage, as well as physical and psychological coercion, which prevent their discovery by law enforcement.

Advocacy:

• Women’s Aid Helpline.

• Turn Off the Blue Light – association of sex workers and others who care about the welfare of sex workers in Ireland. Campaigning against calls to criminalise the purchase of sex, and for the health, safety, human, civil and labour rights of sex workers.

Sources: UN Women Violence against Women Prevalence Data: Surveys by Country 2011; U.S. Department of State 2010 Human Rights Report; U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2011